Story:IS YOUR IT DEPARTMENT CAPABLE OF DETECTING AND RESPONDING TO THREATS?

It was only a year ago that the Wannacry ransomware attack shook the security systems of millions of computers in 150 countries. The damage, of course is unimaginable and in its wake, it left many IT departments of various businesses vulnerable wondering how to have a protective sheath around their sensitive data. There are at least 5 areas that several managers overlook to protect data. It is very important to detect and also respond to the threats if and when they arise. It is inevitable that you will need managed security service providers at some stage to protect data from being compromised or leaked.

This blog will help you to examine the current IT landscape of your enterprise and if need be you can approach a reliable 3rd party vendor for foolproof security.

Digital evaluation of having a security sheath

Ask about the benefits of managed services

Most businesses consider investing in IT security (if there is any at all) bothersome. Annual budgets of all companies that have a digital presence now need to allocate a sizable budget for a secure online platform. This is where managed security service providers (MSSP) come into the picture. The size of the organization does not matter anymore in digital space. If you cannot afford an internal cybersecurity, it is best to turn to some proven methods offered by 3rd party service providers. You will understand their relevance, once it starts making sense after a risk assessment of the systems in use. This process is continuous as new risks, malware, ransom ware and other data theft and leaks occur and pose a threat. The ideal beginning would be to reduce the risk and thereby spend less on the security. A weak IT budget affects the fortunes in many ways as returning back to normalcy is difficult. Turning the attention to MSSP will throw up more space and time for the IT Department to keep the systems alive.

Currently, if you have an internal security, think of the following risks that never occurred earlier:

The IT Department shifts focus from other important tasks to monitor security and detect threats. This creates a challenge for the company if there is a break, breach, or theft.

It is difficult to train employees after the breach has occurred. As threats evolve, the budget of training increases. Can the company afford it?

Employees move on quickly and new ones need to be trained. Once again, it is a cumbersome process if a risk crops up and needs to be dealt with urgently.

The next logical step is to hire a 3rd party vendor who is able to handle the issues without harming the business interest. The vendor is trained and experienced to recognize, detect and offer the best solutions just incase there is another digital scare. They provide reliable solutions in the following ways:

Be alert to new threats through regular channels

What should worry you about online presence

Ransomware isn’t going anywhere and it continues as a threat- it may reappear in any other shape online. Nearly, 40% of malware is in the guise of ransomware. It simply allows the hackers to improve their methods of attack and make it difficult to trace. It hampers daily business.

Crypto currencies market has opened up a Pandora’s box for hackers. The threat is very real and as digital currencies increase so do the chances of being attacked due to crypto mining activities. Even if ransomware diminishes, this is a new hydra head that has appeared in digital space. If a malicious software is uploaded on the system, you may not even know that criminals are using it for nefarious activities.

Did it ever strike you that phishing has become so sophisticated that it often comes in different guises? There are many users who still do not know that phishing takes away so much information that once given away it goes deep into the system. Unless each person working is techno-savvy, the threat poses a deadly risk.

Currently, IoT is making its presence felt. This is another sensitive channel that is posing unveiled risks. While on one hand it has become easy for everyone to deal with inter-connected devices, there are chances that a data breach is possible through a victim’s smartphone. Data vulnerabilities pose risks when shared via such devices. For example, think of the problem that may occur if an infected medical device exposes a patient, as the healthcare industry uses IoT conveniently.

Trusted programs are now at a bigger danger when malware can be installed on a victim’s device. Even in the absence of a hard drive, the vicious program attacks from memory and this is a huge challenge to keep away from if the programs are not monitored regularly.

In the global space, cyber attackers, malware programs, and other threats compromise business security. Would you prefer to review the issues that pose a challenge to the IT Department? The above factors should be able to help you in picking the right and reputed managed security service provider.